"Hey, old man, who's this lady? You two looked pretty cozy just now. Are you planning to ditch Little Sunflower or what?"
Izumi Himawari clung to Fuyukawa Tetsu's arm like a daughter, her face showing a hint of panic.
But it was clear from her choice of words and the intense wariness in her eyes that Tetsu knew exactly what this little girl was thinking. He opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment—
"Tetsu-kun, is this the 'baggage' you mentioned? Don't worry, Mitei will make sure to discipline her properly from now on."
Hearing the term "old lady," Miyano Mitei's alluring face twitched with a raised brow, her eyes glinting with a dangerous yet amused look. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Tetsu's neck, her ample thirty-six Ds pressing against his chest as she breathed softly, her voice sultry.
"Pfft—what kind of weird roleplay is this?! This plot feels straight out of an 18+ game!"
"Who the heck is this woman?!"
"This is way too perfect!"
"The goddess I could never win is just someone else's puppy? That saying… it's actually true… sobs."
"Is this what rich guys' lives are like?"
"Normies, stay away from gaming expos!!"
His right arm was held by a pure, beautiful girl in a gothic lolita dress, while a sensual, glamorous woman pressed against his chest. Without a doubt, the moment Miyano Mitei's "snowy pomelos" turned into "snowy pancakes," every guy in the smoking area was floored.
Some were shocked, some were jealous, some threw out snarky comments, and others sulked, puffing on their cigarettes in quiet despair.
All eyes were on Fuyukawa Tetsu's face. Even the most envious couldn't hide their admiration, but… Tetsu wasn't exactly having the best time.
Sure, his right arm was held by a pure, beautiful girl, but Izumi Himawari was also pinching his flesh hard. And yeah, his chest was pressed against those snowy pomelos, but his left foot was being mercilessly crushed by Miyano Mitei's high-top Martin boots.
The two women's gazes were filled with charm—and murderous intent!
A battlefield of jealousy!
But—
Tetsu wasn't fazed at all. Amid the shocked stares of the smoking area crowd and the slightly flustered looks from Himawari and Mitei, he flexed his arms, pulling both women— one slender, one curvaceous—into his embrace. With a grin, he said, "You came at the perfect time. Let me introduce you. This is your new mom, Ms. Miyano. And this is Little Sunflower, Izumi Himawari. As women of the Fuyukawa family, you two need to get along from now on."
"..."
"..."
Completely caught off guard by Tetsu's response, Miyano Mitei, pressed against his chest, froze, her foxy eyes wide as saucers. Not just her—Himawari was stunned too. Feeling the strong hand gripping her waist, her face flushed red, her heels lifting slightly as she pressed closer to Tetsu's chest. But soon, catching the sweet scent of Miyano Mitei standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her, she snapped back to reality.
"What's that, you big pervert?!"
"You're way too bold!"
With two indignant cries, the next second, both women broke free from Tetsu's embrace like they'd been launched from a slingshot, glaring at him with flushed, angry faces.
Tetsu chuckled and shrugged. "Come on, I was just playing along with your little game. Weren't you two the ones insisting on this whole daughter-stepmom act?"
"Ugh, you annoying old man!"
Himawari shot him an embarrassed glare, but she realized Tetsu wasn't the type to be cornered by women. She smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt and then turned her hostile gaze back to Miyano Mitei. "But seriously, who is this lady? Why were you two so chummy just now? You even shared a cigarette!"
Another jab, another "old lady."
Even with her usual cool, aloof demeanor, Miyano Mitei's brow twitched slightly. She puffed out her ample chest and said, "I'd like to ask, when did Section Chief Fuyukawa's taste get so… bland?"
Bland?
Himawari blinked, but when she caught the dismissive glance sweeping over her modest A-cups, she exploded. Hands on her hips, she snapped, "So what if I'm flat? I'm only eighteen! I've got plenty of time to grow! Unlike some old ladies who only have downhill to look forward to! Hmph!"
Such sharp wit?
Seeing Himawari argue for the first time, Tetsu raised an eyebrow, amused. But Miyano Mitei, a master of verbal sparring, wasn't one to be outdone.
"Plenty of time to grow?" Mitei smirked dismissively. She wasn't planning to waste more words on this kid, but sensing the close bond between Himawari and Tetsu, her eyes gleamed with playful mischief. "You're young, sure, but let me tell you a harsh truth: reaching my level isn't just about time—it takes talent. A skinny twig like you? No chance. You might not even have enough for your kids to eat."
"What?! Mind your own business!"
Another dismissive glance.
Mitei, the seasoned pro, knew how to hit where it hurt. That single look completely broke Himawari, but what Mitei didn't expect was Himawari's next move. Furious, Himawari grabbed Tetsu's arm and huffed, "So what if you're curvy? Tetsu-kun likes my type! Right, Tetsu-kun?"
Her tone was coy, but her eyes were threatening, with a hint of hidden shyness.
Honestly, Tetsu appreciated all kinds of beauty. Sayako and Mitei were like a gentle wife and a voluptuous black rose—soft and comfortable to hold, with a plush, yielding feel. But Himawari's slender, fair frame, with long, straight legs Pai and a petite figure that could be held with one hand, was just as captivating.
Feeling the warmth from her grip on his arm, Tetsu was about to say, "I like them all," when—
"Tetsu-kun, Little Sunflower, there you are! Oh, Director Miyano?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Himawari and Mitei turned to see Kawai Sayako at the entrance of the passageway.
It was Christmas, and Sayako had clearly put effort into her appearance. Her tall, curvy figure was wrapped in a youthful pink mid-length coat, with a fluffy white sweater and a thick, cozy scarf accentuating her thirty-six Ds. The coat's hem reached mid-thigh, and her shapely legs were clad in light-colored cotton tights.
It's true what they say—outfits can completely change someone's vibe.
If Sayako's usual floral dresses gave her the aura of a gentle, traditional wife, today's look added a layer of refined maturity. Unlike Mitei's "elite professional" sophistication, Sayako's vibe was more like a sweet wife waiting under an umbrella in the snow for her husband to come home.
When these two stunning women with contrasting auras met, the scene drew every man's attention. Amid the pained, "Is there no justice left?" looks from the smoking area's crowd, Sayako approached Tetsu with a gentle smile and gave Mitei a slight bow. "Merry Christmas, Director Miyano. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Perhaps a bit warm from walking, her lovely face was flushed, and faint white puffs of breath escaped her lips.
"So you're here to spend Christmas with Sayako-san," Mitei said, glancing at Sayako and then at Tetsu, whose outfit was a bit more polished than usual but still casually unkempt. A knowing look flashed in her eyes.
Have they already moved in together?
This guy moves fast.
Sayako didn't catch Mitei's thoughts. As a naturally timid woman, she'd always been a bit intimidated by Mitei. But remembering Tetsu's words from that hot spring night—You're a woman of the Fuyukawa family—she lifted her head, confidently linked her arm with Tetsu's, and flashed a sweet smile. "Oh, no, the project work wrapped up yesterday, so Tetsu-kun made time to spend with us today. By the way, I saw the company's booth when I came in. Are you here as a representative, Director Miyano?"
Whoa, Sayako's holding her own?! And against her boss, no less!
Himawari, who'd been worried, widened her eyes. She'd visited Sayako at the company before and always thought Sayako seemed shy and unconfident around colleagues. That's why she'd reacted so strongly to Mitei's closeness with Tetsu.
She'd been concerned for Sayako, but this was completely unexpected!
Even Mitei, who'd dealt with Sayako before, was surprised. With a playful glance at Tetsu, she nodded. "Yes, TGS sent the company an invitation. Oh, look at the time—I need to head to the venue. Catch up with you three later."
Checking her watch, she nodded to Sayako and Tetsu, then shot a teasing look at the fuming Himawari before swaying her hips and heading into the venue. As soon as she left, Himawari's eyes widened as she checked her phone. "Oh no! I have to perform! I'm gonna be late! Old man, Sayako, come watch me sing later!"
With that, she dashed off in a panic.
"Hey, slow down! That girl… if only her personality was as calm as her looks," Sayako muttered helplessly.
Tetsu, hands in his pockets, chuckled. "That's just how you are. You want kids to be quiet when they're having fun, but in a few years when they actually settle down, you'll probably be chasing them out of bed with a broom."
"No way, I'm not that strict," Sayako pouted. "By the way, how did you run into Director Miyano?"
"Oh, that? It all started with a zipper button…"
Tetsu was open with the woman he cared about, recounting what had happened.
At first, Sayako smiled hearing about Himawari's zipper mishap, but when he got to the part about Mitei, she wrinkled her nose. "Tetsu-kun, you're so greedy. You already have me, yet you're so close with Director Miyano."
Her tone carried a hint of complaint, but before Tetsu could respond, she leaned closer, her snowy pomelos pressing into pancakes against him. Tiptoeing, she whispered shyly in his ear, "Looks like you didn't get enough this morning, huh? That won't do. So… how about over there?"
"Over there?"
Caught off guard, Tetsu followed her gaze and his eyes widened slightly.
She was looking at the curtained changing room.
His gaze instantly heated up. Sensing his reaction, Sayako's face flushed, but she continued her shy whisper. "I knew you couldn't resist. I… wore the lace openwork style today just for you~"
"You little minx! Let's go!"
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